AboutAmelia Yaussy Expertise I can answer questions about systemic scleroderma and live and internet resources to help you cope with this disease. I have personal experince with scleroderma, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and Sjogren's Syndrome.
Experience I am a systemic scleroderma patient (12 years) and have been active in support online for nearly the same amount of time. I proposed the Usenet newsgroup alt.support.scleroderma and own the website ihavescleroderma.com.
Organizations I am a board member and volunteer for the Scleroderma Foundation, Ohio Chapter.
Publications Arthritis Today, Sept 1997, "A guide to the internet"
Education/Credentials International Webmasters Association, Web Technologies Certification
Awards and Honors Volunteer of the Year, Scleroderma Foundation, 2004; Advocacy Appreciation Award, Scleroderma Foundation, 2005
Question Over the past 6 years i have experienced 5 or 6 episodes of what i originally believed was gout. The first episode started in my left ankle lasted about 7days and then went to my right ankle. One episode went from knee to knee. As i write i am just recovering from my latest episode that started on my inner left thigh and then spread down to the knee. Can this be gout without being centerd around a joint?
Answer This info from NIAMS (the part of the NIH concerned with arthritis) names the areas where gout can occur, the most common being the big toe:
It doesn't sound like you've seen a doctor for this. You should make an appointment as soon as possible and find out what's really going on. If it is gout, you're ahead of the information game, and you and your doc can work together to find a solution for you.